Non-US Citizens
Flight students who are not United States citizens must accomplish 2 additional steps before beginning flight training: a more comprehensive TSA approval process, and an English evaluation. In order to comply with these steps, non-US Citizens may not enroll in their first UND Aviation flight training course during their first semester at UND.
TSA FTSP Approval
Non-US Citizens must apply for a security threat assessment (STA) with the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Flight Training Security Program (FTSP), and receive a Determination of Eligibility from the TSA before being able to participate in flight training. This is a multi-step process that may take a month or more. It is recommended that you start the process no later than 30 days prior to the start of your flight lab. The duration of your Determination of Eligibility is valid for up to 5 years from the date of issue. It is important that you remember to select UND as your training provider in order for UND to create training events prior to each course of your flight training. The TSA FTSP website has explicit instructions for you to follow as well as a help page.
The following is an approximate breakdown of the steps required to obtain FTSP approval:
- Register at UND for a class that includes flight training.
- Open an account on the TSA FTSP portal.
- Complete the online STA application.
- Pay the $140 fee (use Pay.gov).
- Wait for the fingerprint instructions email.
- Obtain and submit fingerprints from a TSA-accepted collector.
- Track the status of your STA application. Monitor your emails, as the TSA only communicates with you through email.
- When you receive a "Determination of Eligibility," choose UND as your flight training provider. This is the only way you can initiate flight training, as it notifies your provider of your approval to train with them. The email will be entitled "Determination of Eligibility."
- The UND Records Department will be in contact with you after the notification from the TSA and ask you to bring your documents used when registering with TSA FTSP to them to prepare your paperwork.
- At the start of the semester you will go to Records to enroll in the flight portion of your training. Students will bring their documentation. Your picture will be taken for submission to the TSA FTSP. When this is accomplished, flight training can begin.
- Keep your TSA FTSP portal account information and document uploads current. If it becomes out-of-date or your qualifying documents expire, your Determination of Eligibility could be suspended or cancelled.
For questions regarding the TSA FTSP process, contact TSAapproval@aero.UND.edu.
English Evaluations
All non-US citizen students, except for US Permanent Residents, are required to contact the Course Manager for AVIT 102, Jason Bensley, to initiate the FAA Aviation English Language Standard (AELS) evaluation.
In accordance with AC 60-28B, the AELS evaluation is conducted to ensure all foreign students beginning their flight training at UND meet the FAA English requirement for issuance of a student pilot certificate. Students that meet the English requirements as outlined in the Advisory Circular will be approved to start flight training in a future semester. Students who do not meet the AELS standard will not be approved to start their flight training at UND.
Students that meet the standards of AC 60-28B are required to start the TSA/AFSP approval process described above within 180 days of their intended beginning of aviation training. UND will validate student TSA/AFSP registrations only when the AELS evaluation has been completed and all standards are met. Students are allowed to register to the TSA/AFSP before the AELS evaluation. However, UND will not validate that registration until the AELS evaluation has been completed and all standards are met.
Students can continue to complete the TSA/AFSP process described above once the AELS evaluation has been completed. Aviation training cannot begin until the entire TSA/AFSP process has been completed.